Writing a Strong Hardship Letter for Immigration

Writing a Strong Hardship Letter for Immigration (with Sample)Use this sample hardship letter for immigration as a template for your formal hardship letter.​Last updated on January 15th, 2019

A hardship letter for immigration to the United States is an extremely important document. In some cases a relative or friend is asked to write this type of letter to help someone who has been sent out of the country and would like to be able to return. There are several basic categories that are required in order for immigration officials to make a decision. In some cases, people already living in the U.S. are asked to leave. This is a deportation notice.

The person will be allowed to plead their case at a deportation hearing and a letter explaining why they should not be deported is an important part of the hearing.Some of the categories that need to be covered in the letter are here, but each person will need to select the ones that apply to their individual case.

The letter should state that the person has family already living in the U.S. In some cases, the immigrant has family in the U.S. and has also been living there for some time. ​It’s important to state which family members are legal residents such as wife, husband, children or parents and clearly state why it is essential that the immigrant is needed by his or her family. They may be a major income-earner or need to care for very young children.​​​Financial Hardship

The financial hardship the immigrant’s family would suffer if their parent or spouse is not allowed back in the country is an important issue. It can be explained in detail who would suffer.

​For example, the person writing the letter who is a legal resident may have to move to the immigrant’s country where they can’t earn a living and don’t know the language. Children would be uprooted from school and move to a country where they know no one. The family’s income would significantly drop putting hardship on their lifestyle.​​If the spouse or child of an immigrant wants to keep their family together, they’ll need to move to the immigrant’s country. This could greatly reduce the education opportunities for the children. It should be clearly stated how this is important for the family in allowing their children the best chance at a good education and a good job, which would have a significant impact on raising the financial and social position of the whole family.

Serious Medical Problem

If the immigrant or a member of his or her family has a serious medical problem that is being treated in the U.S., it should be clearly stated in the letter that either not being allowed back in the country or being forced to leave the country will have a devastating effect on a member of the immigrant’s family. If the family is forced to leave the country, they may be faced with a lack of adequate medical care in the other country.

If the immigrant or their spouse or parent already has a job in the U.S., it’s important to clearly state this in the letter. Employment is as important as education, and being forced to leave the country or not being allowed back into the country could leave the immigrant unemployed. This would cause serious hardship to his or her family.

Some families may have safety concerns about living without their spouse. These concerns may be connected with living in the U.S. without the spouse or living in the spouse’s country. If this is an issue, it should be clearly stated.

Here is a sample hardship letter for immigration. It should be written in formal business style and sent by certified mail, so the sender has proof of when it was sent and received.

This letter is a formal request to the Immigration Department to allow my husband, Name of Husband, who is being held at Name of Detention Center and being denied entry back into the United States, to be allowed to re-enter the country, so he can return to our home. He left the country for two weeks to visit his mother, and is not being allowed to return.

Name of Husband has close family ties in the United States, including his three minor children aged three, seven and 14 who are legal residents. The two elder children are enrolled and doing well in school. He is also the sole support of my aged parents who live with us.

My husband has lived in the United States for the past 10 years and has a good job as a chef at a local five-star restaurant. The health insurance he receives from his job is essential for the treatment I am receiving for a spinal injury.

​Because of this injury, I am unable to work at this time. He is the sole support of our family and his job insurance is essential for our well-being. We cannot pay our mortgage payment, buy food or pay education expenses for our children without him.

I humbly request that in the light of all of these hardships his family is enduring my husband be allowed reentry into the U.S. I can be reached at 555-123-4567 or at [email protected] Thank you for your attention to this matter.